WHO WE ARE

Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) is the founding and largest chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a 501c3 non-profit organization. Located in the most dynamic and competitive city in the world, Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) is an unparalleled collective of forward-thinking and successful female leaders in all sectors of the food, beverage, and hospitality industries.


Our mission is to advance and support aspiring professional women in food and beverage, as well as to champion critical industry issues. LDNY’s vision is guided by three objectives: Education, Advocacy and Philanthropy.


Our premier food and fine beverage events are the primary ways we fundraise in support of LDNY’s competitive Scholarship Program, one of our proudest achievements. Created in 1977, our scholarships provide committed students in the world of food and beverage with financial assistance as well as a host of additional industry opportunities.

Visit our events page to learn about our events, which are open to members and the general public.

To further support our mission, you may donate here.

EDUCATION

Leaders across the diverse landscape of food, beverage and hospitality, our 159 members are committed to mentorship and resource-sharing to serve the advancement of women in our industries. Throughout the year, LDNY hosts educational programs and valuable peer-to-peer networking events, and serves as a critical conduit for relationship building and career development. LDNY also offers a Mentoring Program for our scholarship recipients one-to-one with Dames.

ADVOCACY

LDNY members are creative, thoughtful leaders dedicated to championing relevant industry issues and promoting progress. Leveraging our community’s vast resources, connections, and influence, we invest time and energy into supporting critical initiatives at a local and global level. Through our many events, special projects and our far-reaching communication platform, our members work hard to advocate the ideas and solutions that are in line with our value system.

PHILANTHROPY

LDNY’s competitive Scholarship Program is one of our proudest achievements. Created in 1977, our scholarship provides aspiring students in the world of food and beverage with financial assistance as well as a host of additional industry opportunities. This vital programming has become even more critical curing the COVID-19 crisis which has devastated the hospitality industry.

Watch this video of how the LDNY chapter helped shape the LDEI legacy:

Ki Keys with Carol Brock
Lidia Bastianich Cooking School
Julia Child with Ariane Daguin and Janeen Sarlin
Barbara Sibley at La Palapa
2019 Member Induction

LDEI supports 44 chapters in the USA, Canada, Mexico, France, Italy and the UK. The organization hosts more than 2,600 volunteer members worldwide and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality.